A dimensionally stable B-pillar for an automotive vehicle including tailored material properties is provided. The B-pillar includes at least one localized soft zone surrounded by a hard zone. The hard zone typically has a yield strength of 950 MPa to 1700 MPa; a tensile strength of 1200 MPa to 2100 MPa; and an elongation of greater than 4%. The soft zones each have a yield strength of 340 MPa to 780 MPa; a tensile strength of 400 MPa to 980 MPa; and an elongation of greater than 10%. The microstructure of the hard zone is martensite, and the microstructure of the soft zones is tempered martensite, ferrite pearlite bainite, ferrite pearlite austenite, ferrite pearlite, ferrite bainite, cementite austenite, and/or cementite bainite. The soft zones of the B-pillar are manufactured with a slow cooling step, which can be conducted in air outside of the dies.

This disclosure provides economical and effective methods and apparatus for repairing scratches and scuffs on refillable bottle surfaces that minimally contaminates the bottle during the refurbishing process. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric packaging material such as a bottle to form at least a partially filled packaging material; and b) applying at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the at least partially filled packaging material to form a repaired polymeric packaging material. Apparatus and recycling systems that incorporate this method are also disclosed.

The procedure (1) for obtaining raw materials resulting from waste material comprises: the supply (A) of harmonic steel resulting from waste material and prepared in a skein to be treated (3); a heat treatment (B) of the skein to be treated (3) for obtaining a treated skein (3a);—a post-treatment (E) of the treated skein (3a) for obtaining steel reusable as raw material; where the heat treatment (B) comprises an inductive exposure step (B1) of the skein to be treated (3) to at least an alternate magnetic field for the induction in the skein to be treated (3) of alternate eddy currents adapted to raise the temperature of same.

A device for shaping a blank for forming a thermoplastic structural part, the blank comprising reinforcing fibres embedded in a thermoplastic matrix, said shaping device comprising a support member for supporting a blank along a longitudinal axis, at least one heating member, at least one inclination member configured to modify the inclination of at least one part of the longitudinal portion of the blank at an angle of inclination that can be parameterised with respect to the horizontal plane in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a movement system from upstream to downstream along the longitudinal axis of the heating member and of the inclination member relative to the support member so as to successively modify the inclination of a part of each longitudinal portion of the blank.

A process for gluing on an industrial scale, preferably by using hot-melt adhesives, substrates, preferably made of plastic material, by nano-modifying the adhesives through the addition of particles sensitive to electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic induction coupling. The present invention also relates to a simple, low-cost and environment-friendly (i.e., eco-compatible) separation of various components glued by way of the adhesives through the use of the same equipment and the same type of process. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to repairing glued junctions made by way of the adhesives.

A sealing assembly for sealing a bundle of wires includes a first sheet formed of a sealant material, a second sheet disposed above the first sheet, and a third sheet disposed above the second sheet formed of the sealant material. The second sheet includes a thermally conductive material. When the bundle of wires is overlaid on the assembly in a first direction, and the assembly is wrapped in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first to thereby surround the wires, the second sheet facilitates enhanced thermal energy distribution of applied heat throughout the assembly to thereby more uniformly melt the sealant material and thereby fill voids between the wires.

Provided a composite material forming method capable of easily using a composite material that is formed by causing a resin to react in a state where it is joined to another member; and a composite material. The composite material forming method includes a first material preparation step (magnetic field circuit forming material preparation step S11), a second material preparation step (magnetic field circuit non-forming material preparation step S12), a material assembly step S13, and a first heating step (magnetic field heating step S14). In the first material preparation step, a first material including a first resin is prepared. In the second material preparation step, a second material including a second resin is prepared. In the material assembly step S13, the first material and the second material are assembled to each other.

The present application describes a system for curing moldable material. The system comprises an energy source, a mold, and/or other components. The mold comprises internal mold surfaces forming a mold cavity. The mold is formed from one or more materials configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation emitted by the energy source. The mold has a hot zone and a cold zone. The hot zone and the cold zone have the one or more materials thereof comprising at least one different physical characteristic so that the hot zone and the cold zone absorb the electromagnetic radiation at different rates and/or in different amounts. The hot zone absorbs more electromagnetic radiation than, and/or electromagnetic radiation faster than, the cold zone.

An assembly to repair a thermoplastic composite. The assembly includes a heating device positioned on opposing sides of the thermoplastic composite. The heating device includes one or more susceptor with a Curie temperature to heat the thermoplastic composite. A pressure device applies a compressive force to the heating device. A pressure distribution device is positioned between the heating device and the thermoplastic composite. The pressure distribution device distributes the compressive force from the pressure device over areas of the opposing sides of thermoplastic composite.

A method of manufacturing a cover layer for a vehicle interior component includes forming a mold cavity via a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from one another by a distance. The first surface is configured to form a show surface of the cover layer, the second surface is configured to form a rear surface of the cover layer, and the distance is less than or equal to 1 mm. The method of manufacturing the cover layer also includes heating the first surface and/or the second surface, and flowing liquid polyvinyl chloride into the mold cavity to form the cover layer.